Cornwall Misses Out On Fuel Rebate

The government has gone to Europe asking if it can extend the 5 pence off a litre to another seven areas.

They are all in Scotland, bar one.

Devon is already on the original list.

Penzance dad and taxi driver Brian says the Duchy is just as deserving: "Not just for taxi drivers, it's also families too. You're in Cornwall, you need your car to go anywhere, the cost of fuel is always rising, it doesn't go down and your wages don't go up.

"Taxi-ing is my main income and with the rebate it would make a lot of difference, especially with the prices constantly going up. If you, for example, take someone from Goldsithney to Penzance, by the time you take your fuel costs out you don't make much at all on it.

"It would mean a lot, it would mean a great deal as a business and as a family. My wife goes up and down the country a lot it will help us out and not just us but a lot of other people as well."

A final decision on the areas in the scheme and the price discount is expected from the EC later this year.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said: "High fuel prices in areas where cars are a necessity, not a luxury, is a major issue in rural communities across the UK. So, following a supplementary call for information I'm pleased to announce that seven new areas will join the ten areas already part of our new application.

"Reaching agreement with the Commission will not be easy, but we will now get on with making that case as strongly as we can."